What these wise and war weary women are up to around the country. Really–all over the country. The Raging Grannies are everywhere.
I personally believe the best (and Pinkest) recent Granny action was in our little old pueblo, when the Tucson Raging Grannies the first in the country to attempt to enlist (and to be arrested for it) last July 13th, 2005 were outfitted in pink for peace and Valentines Day delivered a thank you to Senator John McCain. The thank you valentine for the anti-torture legislation he sponsored was delivered to one of his staffers with a stern grandmotherly reminder that he has a long way to go per rendition and bringing the troops home. But even the meeting with the staffer didn’t stop the federal tenants from calling the cops on the Grannies (for what we wonder….. wanton and/or illicit valentine distribution?) but the Grannies had dispersed before any officers arrived. [You can read all my Tucson Granny Arrest rants in the July archive of this blog.]
In Oakland the recruiters just closed the military recruiting station during a time when Grannies planned to enter one at a time and attempt to enlist.
Del Ray Beach, FL is getting on the Granny Wagon too.
And these Grannies Rage about all the outrageous processes and actions that got us into an illegal and immoral war, such as the voting fraud that got this administration into office that the Menlo Park Grannies protested.
The tenacious resolve of the Grannies cannot be disputed. Arrest does not intimidate them in their ever expanding actions to bring attention to the senseless loss of life of the children of the women of the world in Iraq and the seemingly forever war. In Vermont, the Barre Raging Grannies actually took over room in a recruiting office and refused to leave. Police removed them.
In Albany, New York “a few recruiting officers stared from behind the glass office door, but refused to come out” when Raging Grannies attempted to enlist.
I am so proud of the women of this country! In the best tradition of the International Feminist Movement that was focused on abolition of slavery and then on suffrage during the first 200 years of our United States, the women of the world (and thus feminist — ist = relating to — and feminine = of women) once again have given voice to resounding call for united action. This time the focus of women’s attention is peace.
We need to celebrate the Grannies! Perhaps in song? Seems appropriate since that is what they do.
It’s the Raging Grannies from Tucson — A — Z
(Sung to Little Old Lady from Pasadena)
It’s the little old Granny from Tucson — A — Z
Go Granny Go Granny Go Granny Go
Has a pretty little flower bed of code pink freesias.
Go granny, go granny, go granny go
But packed under her rickety ramada
are boxes of lyrics and protest signs
Everybody says that there’s nobody more peaceful
Than the little old lady from Tucson — A — Z
She protests real hard and she sings real loud
She’s the terror of Speedway Boulevard
It’s the little old lady Tucson — A — Z
If you see her on the street don’t try to outdo her
Go granny, go granny, go granny go
You might call the cops but you’ll never deter her
Go granny, go granny, go granny go
Well, she’s really not easily intimidated
‘Cause she sings and stands when justice ‘s abraded
And everybody’s saying that there’s nobody meaner
Than the little old lady from Tucson — A — Z
She sings real loud and holds her sign up high
She’s a terror on Rumsfeld’s watch list
It’s the little old lady from Pasadena
~Instrumental~
Go granny, go granny, go granny go
~Instrumental~
Go granny, go granny, go granny go
The cops come to detain her from miles around
But she gives ’em resistance til they shut her down
And everybody’s saying that no one is more righteous
Than the Raging Granny from Tucson — A — Z
She protests real good and she protests real hard
She’s a terror out on Speedway Boulevard
It’s the Raging Granny from Tucson — A — Z
Go granny, go granny, go granny go
Granny go
Go granny, go granny, go granny go
Granny go
Go granny, go granny, go granny go
Granny go
Go granny, go granny, go granny go
Granny go
Melinda
Omg, that’s awesome!! I had no idea the Grannies were all over the country!
Go Grannies!